Monitoring and Evaluation
Most M&E challenges, such as a lack of sufficient investment and capacities, are not specific to CVA. But those that are relate primarily to monitoring outcomes for unrestricted transfers. The flexibility of cash transfers can make it difficult to determine appropriate outcome indicators, as they may involve a combination of sector-specific and cross-cutting indicators. At the same time, there are limitations on gathering accurate data on how cash transfers are spent.
Grand Bargain signatories have committed to ensuring relevant M&E mechanisms are in place for cash, and increasing understanding of the costs, benefits, impacts and risks of cash relative to other modalities. Building on this, the GB cash workstream has action points including the development of common outcome indicators for multipurpose cash, and metrics for analysing value for money. Systematic value for money analysis has been limited by factors including a lack of agreed upon approaches, the need for quality outcome data, and the intensive nature of the analysis.
Current priorities
As part of the Grand Bargain cash commitments, the CALP Network has co-led (with USAID and CRS) the development of Multipurpose Cash Outcome Indicators. The draft for testing is currently available in English, French and Spanish via the library.
Related initiatives
Featured content
Multipurpose Cash Outcome Indicators – Final Draft for Testing
Guidelines and Tools
Note that the MPC indicators have now been revised. Please click here to access the updated Multipurpose Outcome Indicators and Guidance, which is available in Arabic, English, French and Spanish. Multipurpose Cash Outcome Indicators – Final Draft for Testing Multipurpose cash (MPC) is a type of assistance intended to enable people to meet their basic needs through local...
Monitoring 4 CTP: Monitoring Guidance for CTP in Emergencies
Guidelines and Tools
This guidance provides a central resource to promote a common understanding of the most important monitoring considerations for humanitarian projects using cash transfer programming (CTP). The primary audience for this guidance is field-level practitioners, from organisations directly involved in the design, implementation, monitoring, and accountability of projects using cash and vouchers...
Cost-Efficiency Analysis of Basic Needs Programs: Best Practice Guidance for Humanitarian Agencies
Guidelines and Tools
The Efficiency, Effectiveness and Value for Money Sub-Workstream is pleased to share the final output on Cost-Efficiency Analysis of Basic Needs Programs: Best Practice Guidance for Humanitarian Agencies (attached).
Cost-efficiency analysis estimates the ratio of program costs to outputs created, allowing you to compare cost-per-output for programs which all produced the same output. Such...
Thematic lead
Latest
Cash Transfer Programming Toolkit
Guidelines and Tools
The Cash Transfer Programming (CTP) Toolkit is a basic guide to cash transfer programming in emergency response and early recovery settings. The publication is based upon best practiced and practical experience from Mercy Corps programmes. The Toolkit provides general guidance for CTP, as well as...
2013 Humanitarian Accountability Report
Report
To celebrate the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership’s 10th anniversary, the 2013 Humanitarian Accountability Report reviews progress made over the past decade, and looks at the innovations the sector has adopted to make itself more accountable to populations affected by crises.
Final Monitoring Report of the Somalia Cash and Voucher Transfer Programme
Report
This report presents the findings of Phase 2 of a monitoring exercise of the Cash and Voucher Monitoring Group (CVMG), a unique partnership involving non-governmental organisations (NGOs) providing cash-based interventions in response to famine and humanitarian emergencies in South Central Somalia. It...
Technical Assessment of the Kenya National Safety Net Program for Results
Report
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Comparative Review of Market Assessments Methods, Tools, Approaches and Findings
Guidelines and Tools
Against a backdrop of climate change, global economic crises and commodity market volatility, food security experts are increasingly interested in deepening their understanding of how markets work. In 2011, the CALP Network commissioned this study, which aimed to assess how we are currently analyzing...
Impact Evaluation of Cash and Food Transfers for the Seasonal Emergency Safety Net in Hajjah and Ibb Governorates, Yemen Endline Report
Report
This report is the final impact evaluation of the World Food Programme’s Cash and Food transfer program in Yemen. The program operated in Hajjah and Ibb governorates within the larger Emergency Safety Net (ESN), which provides assistance to qualifying households in rural Yemen. The report details the...
Cash Transfer Programme Participatory Consultation, Feasibility and Market Readiness Study: Burmese refugee camps, Thailand border
Report
This report is a participatory consultation, cash feasibility and market readiness study of the Burmese refugee camps on the Thailand border. It is a rapid, snap shot guide as to whether the conditions in two contrasting camps out of the full nine camps are conducive to a switch from the current ration...
Gatekeepers in Mogadishu: Research Consultancy
Report
Since 2011 the Somalia Cash Consortium has been implementing large-scale unconditional cash transfers (UCTs) under the Food Assistance to Vulnerable Households in South Central Somalia. Members of the Consortium have been confronted with the challenge of having to negotiate security and access to IDP...
Children and Economic Strengthening Programmes Maximising Benefits and Minimising Harm
Guidelines and Tools
This guide is designed for practitioners designing or implementing economic strengthening (ES) programs in low-income settings that are sensitive to the protection needs and well-being of vulnerable children. The guide provides an overview of key learning about how ES can achieve better outcomes and...
CRS’ Emergency Flooding Response in Benin
Report
In response to flash flooding in northern Benin and widespread flooding in the southern departments of the country, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) organised 4 “humanitarian fairs” to meet the immediate needs of households most seriously affected. These fairs were unique in that they incorporated three...
E-transfers in Emergencies: Implementation support guidelines
Guidelines and Tools
Electronic transfers, or e-transfers, are a form of value transfer that relies on digital payment systems. The great many benefits they can realise for aid recipients and aid agencies alike in terms of increased security, convenience, privacy, speed, reduced operational/transaction costs and logistics,...
Impact Evaluation of Cash and Food Transfers at Early Childhood Development Centers in Karamoja, Uganda
Report
This report is a revised draft of the Final Impact Report of an impact evaluation study of the World Food Programme (WFP) project to provide food and cash transfers to households with children participating in Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers in the Karamoja sub region of Uganda. The analysis...
Evaluation Study Support to Life’s Response to Syrian Refugee Crisis, 2012 & 2013
Report
This report is part of enhancing Support to Life’s organisational learning on its Syrian Refugee Programme in Turkey. The specific objective of the evaluation is to present the findings on the achievements, quality and overall impact of Support to Life’s humanitarian response of the Syrian refugee...
Markets dynamics and financial services in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands
Guidelines and Tools
The Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM) team of WFP recently finalised a market study on the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) of Kenya. The study explores market dynamics and financial service access for pastoral communities. This executive summary shortly presents the findings of this study. The...
MasterCard Worldwide and Mercy Corps: ELEVATE phase I report
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The Nepal pilot focused on testing several key stages in the deployment of mobile vouchers, including the following: Identify a technology partner, Customize a mobile voucher platform, and Use the platform to distribute goods to people in need. Two different types of mobile vouchers (SMS and smartphone...
Cash Voucher Programme: Review of voucher assistance as a safety-net transfer modality in the Gaza Strip
Report
This review commissioned by Oxfam GB and WFP, looks at the effect of the Cash Voucher Project of WFP / Oxfam / Ma’an (CVP) on beneficiaries in Gaza. The review studies the impact on beneficiary diets and interviews beneficiaries to obtain their opinion on cash vouchers over in-kind food aid. The review...
Cash or Coupons? Testing the impacts of cash transfers versus vouchers in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Report
Despite the increased use of conditional and unconditional cash-transfer programs worldwide, a majority of social protection programs in both developed and developing countries use in-kind transfers and vouchers. This paper reports the results of a randomized evaluation of an unconditional cash transfer...
Food Analysis Integrity Study: Review of the 2011 drought response in Kenya
Report
Using four case studies from the 2011 drought response in Kenya, the Food Assistance Integrity Study by Transparency International Kenya analyses the impact of diversion and corruption on different types of food assistance. The study aims to enhance the accountability, efficiency and cost effectiveness of...
Enhancing WFP’s Capacity and Experience to Design, Implement, Monitor, and Evaluate Vouchers and Cash Transfer Programmes: Study summary
Report
With support from the Government of Spain, and in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), researchers from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) evaluated four pilot projects to assess the comparative performance of cash transfers, food payments, and vouchers on household food...
Social Acceptability and Perceived Impact of a Community-Led Cash Transfer Programme in Zimbabwe
Report
Cash transfer programmes are increasingly recognised as promising and scalable interventions that can promote the health and development of children in poor resource and high HIV prevalence areas of sub-Saharan Africa. However, concerns have been raised about the potential for cash transfer programmes to...